Harley found him where she expected to find him – in the garage, tinkering with the cars. Only he clearly didn't want anyone to find him there – the whole place was dark, the only light being the streetlamps shining through the window where he sat, half-illuminating his face.

"Uh…hey," she said, slowly.

He looked up, startled. "Hey," he said, putting down the wrench. "What…are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to apologize," she said, hastily. "For what Bruce said…he shouldn't have said anything like that."

Jack shrugged. "He's right. I ain't bright or educated like you and him. I never woulda got into college. What can I possibly add to your conversation, or your party? I don't belong there. I belong here. But you'd better get back, or your guests will worry," he said, returning his attention to the car.

"No, I don't…wanna see them right now," murmured Harley, leaning against the worktop. "I don't wanna see anyone but you."

He grinned. "I'm flattered, kid. But I'm sure you'd rather talk to people who are more interesting than me."

"I don't think there's anyone more interesting than you," she said, quietly. "And…I don't wanna talk."

He looked up at her, surprised. "Look, I know it's…crazy," she stammered. "But I've…been thinking about you a lot. In ways I ain't never thought about Bruce or…or any of the other intellectual guys I've met at college. That kinda pretentiousness just doesn't appeal to me in a man. I'd rather they were just honest and sincere."

She stood up again. "But that's the funny thing about education – sometimes too much of it can spoil you. Sometimes it can change you so that you don't really know what you want, or you can't see it anymore, or…you forget how you used to be. But…I ain't never forgot how I used to be. Hanging out with you…I can't forget how you always made me feel. And that's the only feeling I want anymore. I've…educated myself to discover that what I want…and what I need…has always been right in front of me."

He stood up to face her slowly. "What…are you saying?" he stammered, in a voice that shook.

She smiled. "I told you. I don't wanna talk."

And she kissed him. He let out a moan, but it wasn't of protest, as his arms came about her and he crushed her little body into his, clutching her so tightly he almost suffocated her. But she didn't mind – her own mouth was desperately mauling his, wanting to devour him whole. His kiss was completely unlike Bruce's – it was wild and animalistic and full of desperate need for her. She felt it stir her body as a million delightful, previously unknown feelings began to well up from inside her.

"Oh God – so that's what a kiss is supposed to feel like!" she gasped, as they drew apart to draw breath. And then they were in each other's arms again, their mouths locked together.

She felt his eager hands exploring her body, and she gave him noises of encouragement as he lifted her off her feet, slamming her down on the work table. "Mmm…yes, Jack…please!" she gasped.

"If you knew…how long…and how much…I've wanted you!" he whispered in between kisses as his hands undid the back of her dress. "But I never thought…you could ever feel that way…about a guy like me. Classy dame like you…"

"I've always wanted you," she whispered, smiling up at him.

He gave a sob of relief, and then his hands tore open the back of her dress. She felt the fabric rip and breathed a deep sigh, drawing in a complete breath for the first time that night.

"Oh God, thank you!" she whispered. "I thought I was going to suffocate packed into that!"

He chuckled. "Did you wear that hoping it would rip?"

"I wore it for you," she whispered. "I wanted to be beautiful for you. And I didn't dare hope you'd rip it off, although I wanted that more than anything else. I wanted you more than anything else," she whispered, gazing up at him.

"Oh God, Harley!" he gasped, kissing her madly all over her face. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked.

"Because I thought you'd think it was wrong," he whispered. "That I was some dirty old man lusting after a pretty young girl…"

"Mmm, if this is wrong, I don't ever wanna be right," she whispered, grinning at him. "And maybe you are a dirty old man, but I still love you."

"Oh, Harley!" he gasped. "I love you too!"

Harley had fantasized about it a thousand times, but she never could have imagined it being as good as it was. But then she never imagined it happening on the work table in her father's garage. Or again in the backseat of one of the cars. Or again in Jack's bedroom, after they had driven back to his apartment to get cleaned up.

She lay in his arms as he stroked her hair back with one hand, the other holding a cigarette. "Can I try?" she asked, reaching for it.

"No," he snapped, pulling it away from her. "Your parents would kill me for teaching you how to smoke."

"Mmm, it's not like it's the only bad habit you've taught me tonight," she said, grinning at him.

He didn't grin back. "What are we gonna tell your folks?" he asked quietly, taking a drag of his cigarette.

She shrugged. "Tell 'em I felt ill, and had to leave the party, and stayed over at yours. They won't mind."

"I mean…about us," he said. "Sleeping together. I think they'll mind that."

"Why?" asked Harley. "We're consenting adults. And they love both of us…you'd think they'd be happy we're together."

"Harley, they're gonna think I took advantage of you," he muttered. "As a much older man…I have a responsibility not to do things like this with a young girl who trusts me."

"I'm old enough to make my own decisions, Jack," she retorted. "You didn't seduce me. I had to kiss you, in the end, or you never would have done anything," she added, grinning. "I instigated this."

"You sure did," he said, kissing her. "You wore that dress. I was gonna say something the moment you appeared at the party, but then your friend Bruce interrupted."

"He's not my friend," she said. "I'm not interested in him. And his kiss was crap compared to yours," she murmured, kissing him.

"Well, I would have done it the night you asked me, but I wouldn't have been able to stop," he murmured.

"Is that why you said no?" she demanded, sitting up. "And not because Sally wouldn't like it?"

He inhaled from his cigarette. "There is no Sally," he murmured. "I haven't had a girlfriend in a long time. Since I…started noticing you. I didn't think it would be fair to be with a girl when my mind wanted to be with someone else."

"Then who was Sal on the phone?" asked Harley, puzzled.

He exhaled slowly, putting out the cigarette in the ashtray. "Salvatore Valestra was…an associate of my father's."

"Why was he calling you?" asked Harley.

"He wants me for a job," replied Jack. "An illegal job. I'm not gonna do it. But Sal doesn't take no for an answer, so I've been jittery ever since I refused him. I know he ain't gonna give up that easily."

"But he can't force you to commit a crime," said Harley.

"He can try," murmured Jack, stroking her cheek. "And I'm terrified that he will."

"How?" asked Harley.

He didn't respond, just stared at her, cupping her face. "God, you are so beautiful," he whispered. "So beautiful. What did I ever do to deserve a gal like you?"

He kissed her deeply, pressing her down on the bed, and Harley forgot all thoughts of Salvatore Valestra. He could wait. Time had stopped here in Jack's arms, and for that stopped moment, life was perfect.